KidsFest teaches Christ through fun
Elijah Morrow loaded a red beanbag into his yellow catapult and pulled back with both hands.
At the launch, his Angry Bird soared through the air and knocked down one bucket worth 100 points.
“It's my first time here,” said Elijah, 8, about Orchard Hill — Butler County's KidsFest. “It's to have fun.”
Elijah was one of nearly 50 youths at the church at 107 Staley Ave., Saturday for KidsFest, an event designed to introduce elementary-school-aged children in first- through sixth-grades to Jesus in a fun and engaging way.
Butler resident Chris Steighner dropped off her 10-year-old grandson Trevor for summer amusement before the start of the school year.
Besides the fun, Steighner said she was excited for her grandson's opportunity to share his faith with other children.
The first KidsFest took place last year on the Island in Butler, said Pastor Brady Randall.
Although KidsFest has been a part of the Orchard Hill church for 30 years, this is the first year the Butler campus has had the event in its own space since it arrived at the Staley Avenue location, he said.
At the end of the activity period, a Gospel presentation taught the young participants how each of them is loved by Jesus.
“We believe following Jesus is not boring or ritualistic, it's a blast,” Randall said.
The event is a fun way for families to get a glimpse into the church's atmosphere, he said.
“Every family should feel like they have a place to belong and explore faith at their own level and pace. We treat KidsFest the same way,” he said. “It's for kids who have been in church and for kids and families who have never been to church.”To further assist families, Jenna Bajuszik was hired as the church's full-time director of family ministries.In the position, she will work with everyone from babies through high school-aged students and their families.For the past 11 years, Bajuszik was on the student ministry staff at the Wexford campus.Her goal is to create a student community in the church to act as a safe space, she said.“Students need a safe place and over my years in Wexford I've seen how valuable it is when students have somewhere that's not home and not school where they can be loved wherever they're at,” Bajuszik said.At KidsFest, the community comes together to be a light for children, she said.With the stroke of a paintbrush, a red, orange, yellow and green sparkling rainbow lit up Kennedy Byers' face.Kennedy's favorite part of KidsFest was the bouncy house with slide, said the 10-year-old.She said the day's lesson goes beyond fun.“It's OK to have fun and learn about God at the same time,” said Kennedy.
